Why have people now become so “tender” and vulnerable?

I can't remember where I heard it from, but I remember hearing a theory is that every so often, at least every decade, there's like a shift in society that sways towards one side then the other over time.

An example would be during 90s America, the country was known to be edgy and unapologetic. It wasn't uncommon for people online to use slurs with no consequences, a lot of viruses were made by antsy teens, Slim Shady was the rapper every boy wanted to be like, Beavis And Butthead was popular for it being based on how stupid and nonsensical real people are, I wasn't alive during this time but that's how I understand it.

But now like you said we seem to get offended over everything now. But I am being hopeful we have passed its peaked and we're swinging back the other way again. If this theory is true then I want to hope things like "n-word" being used in memes, more and more people freely saying how tired they are of having to step on eggshells, and it still being acceptable to make fun of and laugh at people is a sign the loud majority of sensitive people is dying out.